'they' say twenty minutes
to reach female arousal

twenty sounds so limiting
why hurry to arrival

i stop and smell the rose
i listen to her heart

she tells me how to breathe her in
her petals, when to part

i watch the sun dance gently
'cross mysteries unknown

sweet moonlight cast her shadow
for mine eyes and mine alone

the garden may reveal herself
in hopes to share with others

but others haven't got my eyes
the eyes of learn'ed lovers

my heart has been refined
through anguish and through pleasure

i've searched for truth romantically
'twas taught through my adventures

i've learned the ways of man
and seek the ways of woman

to further understand the self
no more my egos footman

i've patience and compassion
for others falls into temptation

well acquainted with my failings
'know my boundaries limitations

i've learned to not protest
to fight against what is

i've learned to test integrities
what's strong and what still gives

a student of the garden
sometimes a skillful master

i yearn to dance the dance of life
to toil as a tasker

to help the garden grow
to blossom to her beauty

i've giv'n self to gardening
to know her ways astutely

to know when less is more
to know when more is needed

to know when to dig at the root
to know when she's mistreated

to know when it is time
for thrusting fingers in her soil

to know the weather forecast
to add gnome or add gargoyle

my zen is in the garden
learning her mysteries

my work, to grow much less like man
much more like shrubbery